How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Not as I do," replied Abhorsen, smiling so his paper-white face crinkled at the corners and drew back from his equally white teeth. "And I say the child is not yet dead." (P.11-12)
In the prologue, we get the first clue that death—as we know it—isn't quite the same in the Old Kingdom. The Abhorsen claims to know things about death that no one else does, but that's a bit of an understatement.
Quote #2
A moment of weakness and she had broken the promise she'd made both to herself and her father. It was only a rabbit and Jacinth did love it so much—but what would that lead to? It was no great step from bringing back a rabbit to bringing back a person. (1.21)
We've only met Sabriel for a minute, and already we know that she has unbelievable powers—powers that can involve tough moral dilemmas. She just raised a rabbit from the dead, and apparently it's a slippery slope when you're a necromancer. Imagine the temptation. Do you think you could restrain yourself from bringing back a dead pet if you had Sabriel's abilities? How about a dead friend?
Quote #3
Death and what came after death was no great mystery to Sabriel. She just wished it was. (1.23)
This statement about the nature of mortality in Sabriel's world gives a lot of insight into how it's affected Sabriel herself. Although her powers of necromancy are amazing, we see here that they're also a burden.